Bicycle shifting control apparatus

Abstract

A bicycle shifting control apparatus controls an electrical power supplied from a power supply to first and second gear shifting devices that are operated by first and second gear shift operating devices, respectively. The bicycle shifting control apparatus includes a first power supply sensor and a controller. The first power supply sensor detects a power level of the power supply. The controller receives a power level signal from the first power supply sensor. The controller performs a stopping operation of the first gear shifting device in response to the first power supply sensor detecting the power level of the power supply being below a first prescribed power level, but the controller transmits a second gear shift signal from the second gear shift operating device to the second gear shifting device to perform a second shifting operation of the second gear shifting device.

1. A bicycle shifting control apparatus for controlling an electrical power supplied from a power supply to first and second gear shifting devices that are operated by first and second gear shift operating devices, respectively, the bicycle shifting control apparatus comprising:
 a first power supply sensor that detects a power level of the power supply; and 
 a controller operatively coupled to the first power supply sensor to receive a power level signal from the first power supply sensor, 
 the controller stopping an operation of the first gear shifting device by the first gear shift operating device in response to the first power supply sensor detecting the power level of the power supply being below a first prescribed power level, the controller transmitting a second gear shift signal from the second gear shift operating device to the second gear shifting device to perform a second shifting operation of the second gear shifting device. 
 
     
     
       2. The bicycle shifting control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the controller stops the operation of the second gear shifting device by the second gear shift operating device in response the power level of the power supply being below a second prescribed power level that is lower than the first prescribed power level. 
 
     
     
       3. The bicycle shifting control apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the controller sets the second prescribed power level to a value that stops the operations of both of the first and second gear shifting devices prior to complete discharge of the power supply when the power level of the power supply is below the second prescribed power level. 
 
     
     
       4. The bicycle shifting control apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a second power supply sensor detecting the power being supplied by the power supply. 
 
     
     
       5. The bicycle shifting control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the controller includes a first microcomputer associated with the first gear shifting device and a second microcomputer associated with the second gear shifting device, with an operation of the first gear shift operating device transmitting a first gear shift signal to the first microcomputer, the first microcomputer being prevented from operating the first gear shifting device when the power level of the power supply is below the first prescribed power level, and with an operation of the second gear shift operating device transmitting the second gear shift signal to the second microcomputer. 
 
     
     
       6. The bicycle shifting control apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the controller further includes a control unit operatively disposed between the first and second gear shift operating devices and the first and second gear shifting devices with the control unit receiving the first and second gear shift signals from the first and second gear shift operating devices, respectively, and transmitting the first and second gear shift signals to the first and second microcomputers, respectively. 
 
     
     
       7. The bicycle shifting control apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the controller stops the operation of the second gear shifting device by the second gear shift operating device in response to the power level of the power supply being below a second prescribed power level that is lower than the first prescribed power level by the second microcomputer not operating the second gear shifting device. 
 
     
     
       8. The bicycle shifting control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the controller includes a control unit, a first microcomputer associated with the first gear shifting device and a second microcomputer associated with the second gear shifting device, with the control unit transmitting a first gear shift signal to the first microcomputer in response to an operation of the first gear shift operating device when the power level of the power supply is above the first prescribed power level and stopping transmission of the first gear shift signal to the first microcomputer when the power level of the power supply is below the first prescribed power level. 
 
     
     
       9. The bicycle shifting control apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the controller stops the operation of the second gear shifting device by the second gear shift operating device in response to the power level of the power supply being below a second prescribed power level that is lower than the first prescribed power level by stopping transmission of the second gear shift signal from the control unit to the second microcomputer. 
 
     
     
       10. The bicycle shifting control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the controller receives transmission of a first gear shift signal from the first gear shift operating device in response to an operation of the first gear shift operating device when the power level of the power supply is above the first prescribed power level, and 
 the controller disrupts transmission of the first gear shift signal to the controller when the power level of the power supply is below the first prescribed power level. 
 
     
     
       11. The bicycle shifting control apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the controller stops the operation of the second gear shifting device by the second gear shift operating device in response to the power level of the power supply being below a second prescribed power level that is lower than the first prescribed power level by stopping transmission of the second gear shift signal from the second gear shift operating device to the controller. 
 
     
     
       12. The bicycle shifting control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the controller stops supplying power to the first gear shift operating device when the power level of the power supply is below the first prescribed power level. 
 
     
     
       13. The bicycle shifting control apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the controller stops the operation of the second gear shifting device by the second gear shift operating device in response to the power level of the power supply being below a second prescribed power level that is lower than the first prescribed power level by stopping power to the second gear shift operating device. 
 
     
     
       14. The bicycle shifting control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the controller stops supplying power to the first gear shifting device when the power level of the power supply is below the first prescribed power level. 
 
     
     
       15. The bicycle shifting control apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the controller stops the operation of the second gear shifting device by the second gear shift operating device in response to the power level of the power supply being below a second prescribed power level that is lower than the first prescribed power level by stopping power to the second gear shifting device. 
 
     
     
       16. The bicycle shifting control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first gear shifting device requires more electrical power to operate than an amount of electrical power needed to operate the second gear shifting device. 
 
     
     
       17. The bicycle shifting control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first gear shifting device is a front gear shifting device, and the second gear shifting device is a rear gear shifting device. 
 
     
     
       18. The bicycle shifting control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the controller sets the second gear shifting device to a predetermined gear in response the power level of the power supply being below a second prescribed power level that is lower than the first prescribed power level. 
 
     
     
       19. A bicycle shifting method comprising:
 detecting a power level of a power supply that supplies electrical energy to operate an electric first gear shifting device in response to an operation of a first gear shift operating device, and that supplies electrical energy to operate an electric second gear shifting device in response to an operation of a second gear shift operating device; and 
 stopping the electrical energy from being supplied to the first gear shifting device in response to the operation of the first gear shift operating device upon detecting the power level of the power supply is below a first prescribed power level, while still transmitting a second gear shift signal from the second gear shift operating device to the second gear shifting device to perform a second shifting operation in the second gear shifting device. 
 
     
     
       20. The bicycle shifting method according to  claim 19 , further comprising
 setting the second gear shifting device to a predetermined gear in response the power level of the power supply being below a second prescribed power level that is lower than the first prescribed power level.